On 8 November 2016, pursuant to the section 7(c) of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011, the Attorney-General referred to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights the following matters for inquiry and report:

• whether the operation of Part IIA of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth) (including sections 18C and 18D) impose unreasonable restrictions on freedom of speech; and
• whether the complaints-handling procedures of the Australian Human Rights Commission should be reformed.

The full terms of reference are available. 

The committee tabled its final inquiry report on 28 February 2017.